Adelaide Protester Faces Hefty Penalty for Bridge Abseil Stunt Amid New Laws

ADELAIDE – A bold move by an Extinction Rebellion protester, who decided to abseil off a bridge in Adelaide’s CBD, has culminated in a guilty plea for obstructing a public space, setting a precedent in light of South Australia’s newly stringent protest laws.

In May, activist Caroline Thorne from the international environmental group Extinction Rebellion was detained during a demonstration outside Adelaide Convention Centre. The motive? To express apprehensions at a gas and oil event organized by the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA).

However, it wasn’t just any protest. The peaceful yet disruptive demonstration saw the Morphett Street bridge blocked entirely, stalling trams along the bustling North Terrace and bringing the heart of Adelaide to a standstill. The culmination of Thorne’s protest was her decision to abseil off the bridge. Dangling over North Terrace, she remained suspended for over an hour, causing significant disruption before being safely lowered by emergency services.

While Thorne’s stunt was bold, its repercussions are proving to be profound. In her appearance at the Adelaide Magistrates Court earlier this week, she pled guilty to the charge of obstructing a public space. Notably, two other allegations linked to the incident were dropped by the police.

This protest, coupled with another the following day, prompted swift legislative action by the South Australian government. New laws were rapidly passed, which increased the maximum penalty for “obstructing a public place” from a mere $750 to a staggering $50,000 or a potential three-month jail term. Such hefty penalties now make South Australia’s laws the harshest in the nation for this specific charge.

Unsurprisingly, the rapid passage and severity of this legislation have not been without controversy. Several civil society organizations, including the likes of the Human Rights Law Centre, Amnesty International SA/NT, and the South Australian Council of Social Service, have openly criticized and condemned the move. Adding to the potential financial burden on protesters, the new laws also permit courts to order those found guilty to compensate the police for the costs incurred in responding to such incidents. The means of proof? A certificate “seemingly signed by the chief officer of the relevant entity.”

Meme Caroline Thorne now awaits her sentencing, scheduled for November. As Adelaide watches on, her case is bound to be emblematic of the ongoing tension between civil protest rights and public order, particularly as the global climate movement gains momentum.
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